In-vitro antibacterial activity of crude ethanolic and aqueous Capsicum frutescens fruit extract.

Abstract

Early onset and more commonly late onset sepsis, meningitis, wound infections and gastrointestinal tract infections are caused by klebsiella pneumonia leading to high morbidity and mortality rates as well as fiscal burdens. In addition is the rapid emergence of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing K. Pneumonide which has significantly increased the risk developing serious nosocomial and community acquired infections due to their resistance to most of the existing thus a call for alternative treatment options which are safe, cost effective and simple to administer. The use of nutritive agents like Capsicum frutescens have been seen as attractive alternatives. C. frutescens fruits purchased from Kalerwa market were washed using distilled water and the phytochemicals extracted by maceration using ethanol and also an infusion was made. was done on Mueller Hinton agar well diffusion method and ciprofloxacin was used as a positive control while DMSO was used as the negative control. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of the ethanolic and acqueous ext6ract were determined. The results showed that ethanolic exhibited good antibacterial activity with a low MIC value of 62.5mg/µl and a large zone of inhibition of 14.67mm as compared to the aqueous extract with MIC value of 250mg/µl and small inhibition zone 11mm. C. frutescens can therefore be used to fight against Extended Spectrum Beta lactamase Klebsiella Pneumoniae infections.